The Northeast PA Manufacturers & Employers Association (MAEA) announced the installation of its 2025 officers during a special event at the Mt. Valley Clubhouse.
The newly installed officers are:
- Chairman: Dennis Fink, Northeast Prestressed Products, Inc.
- 1st Vice Chairman: Luke Hoak, UFP Industries Gordon, LLC
- 2nd Vice Chairman: Lance Miller, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
- Secretary: Frank Koller, Hydro North America
- Treasurer: Karen Kenderdine, Mid Penn Bank
- Solicitor: Alvin Marshall, Marshall, Bohorad, Thornburg, Price & Campion, P.C.
Recognizing Excellence and Commitment
A key highlight of the evening was the recognition of Bradley J. Kaup of MI Windows & Doors, who was named the MAEA 2024 HR Professional of the Year for his outstanding contributions to human resources practices.
Additionally, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association (PMA) and the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), MAEA celebrated the achievements of the 2024 Certificate Series Training Graduates. These individuals completed specialized training programs in Supervisory Development, Lead Worker, and Human Resource Development, demonstrating their commitment to professional growth. Participating companies included Cardinal Systems, Inc., Hydro Extrusion North America LLC, LR Costanzo, Northeast Prestressed Products, LLC, PFNonwovens, Romark Logistics, Surteco North America, Tredegar Corporation, and Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.
MAEA’s Expanding Impact
During the event, attendees received updates on MAEA’s performance over the past year, highlighting the association’s role in supporting the regional manufacturing and employer community.
- Over 750 individuals participated in various events and roundtables.
- More than 1,790 individuals benefited from training programs.
- Seven certificate series programs were offered, recognized by NAM and PMA.
- MAEA’s consulting services spanned safety, HR, IT, and process improvement.
- Legislative grassroots efforts and benchmarking data provided essential resources for members.
- The organization welcomed six new member companies, bringing the total to approximately 300 members representing over 40,130 employees.
The YES Program: Investing in the Future Workforce
MAEA’s YES Northeast Certificate Program now serves twenty-one schools, with over 12,500 student participants and 3,600 graduates. Complementing this initiative, MAEA coordinated 14 Schuylkill County Career Fairs, attracting 12,400 students from grades 7-12. Additionally, the YES Northeast Workshop Series, held in Pottsville, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre CareerLinks, conducted seventy workshops last year, empowering out-of-school youth enrolled in GED programs and other career development initiatives.
A Vision for Continued Growth
MAEA President Darlene J. Robbins praised the dedication of board members, graduates, and award recipients, stating:
“We commend the dedication and hard work of our new board members, the recent graduates of our certificate series programs, and Bradley J. Kaup for his outstanding achievement as the HR Professional of the Year. Their contributions are invaluable to the growth and success of our association and the manufacturing community as a whole.”
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| MAEA Supervisory Certificate Series Graduates and presenters |